Category Archives: Ole Imports

Per K&L Wines “90 points from the Wine Advocate! They say, “The 2005 Carro is an unoaked blend of 50% Monastrell, 20% Tempranillo, 20% Syrah, and 10% Merlot. Medium ruby-colored, it has a lovely perfume of damp earth, pepper, cassis, and blackberry. This is followed by a sumptuous wine with layers of ripe, sweet fruit, excellent balance, and no hard edges which totally belie its ridiculously silly price point. The wine is an awesome value. I had thoughts of a higher score but readers might think I’d lost my mind. The Bellum project, in which Ole Imports is involved, started in 2002. It is dedicated to showing what can be achieved from 100% old-vine Monastrell in the up-and-coming D.O. of Yecla. It goes without saying that the price-to-quality relationship of these wines is extraordinary. 2/28/2007″

This winery owns what amounts to among the oldest Monastrell vineyards in Spain. This rich and mouth-filling red, made from a blend of 50% Monastrell, 20% Syrah, 20% Tempranillo and 10% Merlot, offers that value that is almost our of this world!”

What I Think:

I had a bottle of this Monastrell a few weeks back and was thoroughly impressed so with tacos on the menu it didn’t take me long to choose a wine. Given previous positive experiences I think I built up my expectations, like the summer blockbuster movies, a little too high. That said I quickly moved past some initial let down and found myself once again really enjoying this wine. That dark purple color and chewy texture kept me coming back for more. Even with nary a tannin it still paired nicely with the food. I am ready to go pick up a half case of this one. The shopping list is growing.

Per K&L Wines “90 points from the Wine Advocate! They say, “The 2005 Carro is an unoaked blend of 50% Monastrell, 20% Tempranillo, 20% Syrah, and 10% Merlot. Medium ruby-colored, it has a lovely perfume of damp earth, pepper, cassis, and blackberry. This is followed by a sumptuous wine with layers of ripe, sweet fruit, excellent balance, and no hard edges which totally belie its ridiculously silly price point. The wine is an awesome value. I had thoughts of a higher score but readers might think I’d lost my mind. The Bellum project, in which Ole Imports is involved, started in 2002. It is dedicated to showing what can be achieved from 100% old-vine Monastrell in the up-and-coming D.O. of Yecla. It goes without saying that the price-to-quality relationship of these wines is extraordinary. 2/28/2007″

This winery owns what amounts to among the oldest Monastrell vineyards in Spain. This rich and mouth-filling red, made from a blend of 50% Monastrell, 20% Syrah, 20% Tempranillo and 10% Merlot, offers that value that is almost our of this world!”

What I Think:

Monastrell is known as Mourvedre over here in the states. 100% bottlings of Monastrell have made appearances at TJ’s before and they are usually enjoyable and on the cusp of being good which made this one quickly attractive to me. Coupled with my pleasurable disposition to all things Spanish, especially wine, and it was pretty easy to see this one finding its way to my house. Boy, am I glad it did. On pulling the cork I was immediately greeted with a blast of berries with peppery and wooden/vanilla barrelish aromas in the background. On the first sip it seems somewhat unremarkable, you don’t immediately recognize what a nice wine it is but it grows on you…In the mouth up get blueberries, or berries of some type that certainly aren’t brambly. The texture is nice and smooth, almost a bit chewy; it makes you want to smack your lips. The wine has great depth and balance, no tannins to be found. The long, lingering, smooth finish last and lasts, ending with almost a hint of sweetness.

This was the fifth bottle from the two cases I bought at K&L a few months back and four of them have been remarkable wines. Let’s hope the trend continues. I bought two bottles of this one from the get go so I already have another one to look forward to.